According to the data provided by the National Statistics Office, the growth of the gross domestic product comprised 9.6% during the period of January-August of 2004 as compared to the same period last year. At that the industrial production had a 2.8% increase. The export and import volume amounted in $0.5 billion and $0.9 billion respectively. The foreign trade turnover made about $1.3 billion, thus having increased by 2.9% as compared to the same period of 2003.